I got HIV from my second husband. When I was pregnant with my third child, the doctor told me they found a problem with my blood.

I cried for seven days. I didn’t eat anything. All I could do was cry. Then I discovered more information and realized that there was a way to live. If I took medicine as the doctor said, it wouldn’t transmit to my baby. I felt so great that she was born in good health. I hadn’t done anything to hurt her. My kids know I have HIV, and they give me the strength to live. My eldest daughter says, “Mom, you have to be with us, we will live together. When I grow up, I will take care of you.”

My current husband is the third and he is a good guy. We have been together more than ten years and he still treats me nicely. I am so happy. I am happy everyday now.

On normal days I volunteer at the hospital. Otherwise I sell fruit in the market. Until photography refreshed my eyes, the produce in the market didn’t look interesting or appetizing to me. I lived there everyday. I got jaded. I was so worried at first when I starting to shoot photos in the market, but I had fun once I got going. When I saw the photos afterward, I felt so alive.

Normally, my father-in-law and I are not close. So I was surprised that he let me take this photo, because he never ever lets anybody take his photo. The bed belonged to my mother-in-law who passed away. My father-in-law likes to sit there watching TV. I think it reminds him of his wife. This is my father-in-law in the photo and, behind him, the photo of the King, who is the greatest father of all. He is a father figure too.

My daughter is wearing a student uniform, and the other is my husband’s daughter. Even though they are not real sisters and fight sometimes, they love and care for each other so much.

Looking in the mirror I thought to myself, I am just an ordinary 36-year-old woman, a mother and wife, but I am still capable of taking care of everyone in the family. The mirror reflects who I am and my life. I have to look after myself. If I don’t take care of myself, how can I take care of others?

Sometimes there are four kids sitting on the bed while I am doing other things. The photo shows the affection among us.

Family is my medicine, healing my wounds. Sometimes I forget I have HIV in my body.